The Artemis Daughter

Chapter 3

I gripped my head tightly again. I felt that my head is going to blast. It's so hard to bear that pain. I fall onto my knees.

"Vany...!!! Are you ok?" Hades came to me. He shook me but I didn't feel anything properly. I saw he was talking to me. Maybe he was calling my name. I can't tell it properly as I heard someone was calling my name but from far, far away. I knew it was Hades' voice. I wanted to respond but I even can't feel my body. I looked at Nico's and Persephone's faces. They were also darkened in fear.

Everything around me became darker and more unclear. I felt it as someone is weaving an unclear and dark layer on my eyes. I was breathing hard. It's like someone is blocking my air ways. I struggled to breath. I don't know what happened next. The only thing I remember is I passed out.

When I wake up again someone was staring at me. It was a new face. I suddenly sit up. I hit my head with that person's nose. His nose started to bleed. He looked up to stop bleeding.

"Ah, I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to do so..." I looked around. It's not the place where I woke up first. "...well, where am I...?"

"Don't worry... you're still in the underworld." Nico walked near me. "Well, Will... are you ok?" Nico gave his handkerchief to that new person, Will.

"I... I'm fine. Don't worry." Nico and Will stared at each other. I looked at both of them. I cleared my throat. Their stare broke. Nico whipped his hands on his trouser.

"Ummm... ok, you don't know who is this. So, I'll introduce my boy friend Will to you..." Nico showed Will who was standing next to him. Will smiled at me pleasantly. "Hi, I'm Will Solace. I'm 18 year old. I'm a son of Apollo, the god of sun. Well, he's your brother-in-law from your dad side and uncle from your mom's side. I'm a healer. It's nice to meet you."

Vany gave a small smile to him too. What? Boyfriend? I don't know what's going on this world. Why do they love for the people who are the same sex as them? Gay!? Why there is something named love? Living is a complicated thing...

"Vany?" Nico took me out of my thoughts.

"Ah, sorry... I was thinking about something"

"You guys keep talking. I have so many work to do in the human world. I gotta go for it." Will stepped to the door. "Be careful..." Nico waved his hand. Will smiled and waved his hand too. "Let's meet again later Vany."

After Will left, Nico turned to me. "Ha... Hi"

He's stuttering? Why does he stutter? Hades told that I'm his sister so, why is he afraid to talk to me? "Well, Ni... Nico, right?" Nico nodded his head. "Umm... how should I call you? Brother? Nico?... or..."

"Just call me Nico. I... I'm not your own brother. I'm..." Nico stopped what he was talking and I think he was thinking. "Well, we're half-siblings"

What was he thinking? Maybe he had forgot what the proper word for tell our relationship. I comforted myself. But... he was hiding something. I should stop thinking about it!

"Well, I had a sister of my own... she... she died" his face turned dark in pain. I was emotionless at that moment. I didn't know what to tell. "I have another half-sibling. Well, she's a daughter of Pluto. Hades ro..."

"Roman side" I completed it. I didn't know what I was talking. I felt I should tell it in that moment.

"How... how did you know it? Do you remember anything of your past?" Nico brought his face near my face. I pushed myself back on the bed, where I was sitting.

"My past? Sorry... I don't remember anything but I just felt that I should tell it in that moment..." I looked down. My past... it's just a blank sheet for me. What has have happened in my past? Why I can't remember anything?

Something came into my mind as a lightning. I looked at Nico. "Do you... do you know anything about my past?" I looked at him full of hopes.

"I... I know a little."